The guilt of yesterday's sins dripped away like water from wet cloths. I no longer felt sorry or disturbed by my actions, which is both good and bad. We all have to live with what we do, but it is how we live with and accept that defines us. Putting these acts behind me as if they were the act of stealing something from a grocery store seemed wrong or inhuman. Not much I can do about it now.
After I woke up, I looked out the window and saw that the safe house wasn't a buzz with men shouting and searching the streets for us so I woke up Duke and we headed for the last of the safe houses we knew of. I figured that if Jane really was at the "inviting" safe house that we could always circle back for one last check. I knew there was a good chance we wouldn't find her, but there was nothing wrong with trying. I really don't know what I would have done next if I hadn't had found her. No one was at the next safe house (they may had all been out looting or had simple moved on like a herd of animal. There were no bloodstains on the floor so I don't the soulless got in here), but there were a few guns and ammo still stashed in hidden places so I decided to claim them. We kept coming across a few soulless here and there, and I would bash their heads with a thick monadnock (a police club) that I looted off one of the two men I killed. I had this strange feeling that Duke didn't like me doing that.
The next safe house we came to was much different in greeting then all of the previous ones. There were lookouts on the roof along with a small group of men and women standing guard. The guards looked relax with our approach, but I could tell from the way the lookouts were watching me that they had their hands on a gun of some kind just in case I became violent. Upon reaching them, I explained who we were looking for and the response from one of the largest men there was, "I think I know who you are looking for. Follow me."
Duke stayed outside while I walked in and at a table in the far back was a woman that matched the description given to me by John. She was talking with another guy when I approach, but both became quiet with our approach.
"Excuse me, Jane" said the large man who had led me in, "This man says that he's been looking for you."
"That's what they all say," she said in a kidding tone.
"Your father's name is John, correct?"
The amused look left her face, "Yah. How did you know that? Is he alright?"
"Yes. He's just fine. I came here to take you back to him, that is if you want to."
"Don't you think I've thought about going back. There's no way I'd make it without being killed." she answered.
I told her that I did and I've been travelled a lot farther than this in my life. I promised that I'd get her there safely. After a brief few moments of contemplation on her part, she agreed and left to go pack her stuff.
"Hey." The large man said, "You're just going to walk in here and take one of our women. You've got a lot of nerve."
"Well, I'm pretty sure that their not YOURS in ownership, but that they are your comrades. I know it's not much, but would you take guns and ammo as a peace offering," I responded.
He smirked and said, "Alright."
We walked outside and were greeted by a small group of men, one of which immediately said, "That's him! That's the man!"
A few of the new arrivals attempted to grab me, but the guards pushed them back.
"What is this all about?" The large man asked.
"Your friend there visited our places before he came to yours and killed a number of our men," one of the other guys said.
"Because they tried to kill us! One tries to shoot me for knocking on a door and two others try to sneak up on us with knives in the night!" I said assertively.
"Details are not important. so, are you going to come with us or will you force us to kill you all."
"Go to hell!" The large man said taking a swing at the man who said the last phrase. However, the large was quickly stabbed and a fight broke out. I quickly ran back inside while the members of the safe house either poured outside or to the windows to provide cover fire. I found Duke cowering behind me, who had snuck in when no one was looking (which explains why this riot didn't start sooner with the men noticing him). People were pouring down or up the stairs in a panic and as soon as I saw Jane, I grabbed her arm and said "Let's go!"
We made our way to the back of the safe house with the backdoor being barricaded a pile of table, chairs, and wooden shelves. I began moving the stuff out of the way, along with some other people who had followed us back here. It didn't take us long to get the door open just enough for us to get out and just in time because I heard gunshot about 8 seconds after we escaped. There was a group of 8 of us weaving through the alley ways, hiding from people running around with guns. I didn't know if they were necessary looking for me or just people from the safe houses to kill in general, but either way, avoidance was the best policy. As more and more gunshots were fired off, soulless began pouring in from around the city. We often has to take alternate routes because of a blockade of soulless. Going around one of the sides of the buildings, we came across some people with guns who instinctively shot at us and we shot back. Two people in our group dropped to the ground and there was no time to check whether they were still alive.
Finally, we made it out of the city, but not without being pursued. A group of men followed distantly behind us for some time, but it seems that for now we managed to lose them. Through all of the men shot dead and the ones that left once they realized we were leaving the city, we were now a group of four. Tim was the fourth member's name and ironically enough, he and Jane knew each other well (and if I'm not mistaken, knew each other romantically). Tim and Jane never left each other's side, even after our haste slowed. Somehow, Duke kept up with us (I was surprised) I'll go into more detail about Tim in my next entry. Right now, we're taking a breather. A long, long breather.
- Jack's Diary
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